BKB Pregame Intel: Wisconsin Badgers

Roy Lamberton

02/02/2007

Fresh from a road loss to Indiana, the #2 ranked Badgers need to start another winning streak to help their position in the Basketball polls.
They also need the win to get back on track against a team that almost pulled off an upset a few weeks ago, the Northwestern Wildcats...

Things were going so well for the #2 Wisconsin Badgers until Wednesday...

when they travelled to Indiana to put their 17 game [7 in the Big 10] Winning streak on the line against Indiana's 12 game
home winning streak. Something had to give.

Despite Alando Tucker's 23 points and 4 treys from Kammron Taylor, Indiana shot 62.5% in the second half, getting 20 points off the bench
from A.J. Ratliff, and 16 more from D.J. White. Wisconsin only "managed" to hit 50% of their FTs, and they took 4 more shots in the half.

One bright spot was Kam Taylor's 4 of 9 3 point shooting [he'd been in a bit of a slump] - of course the rest of the team [Tucker] only made one more three in the game, leaving the Badgers 5 of 20 from downtown.

Anyway, don't expect the Badgers to dwell on the loss, even though it will probably cost them a couple of spots in the polls. Tucker has
challenged the team to finish out with another winning streak - one Taylor expects to run another 17 games. [see the "Last Word" below]

The Challenge - NU's 1-3-1 Zone
In Evanston, the Cats actually led Wisconsin in the 2nd half, until Tucker took charge, sparking an 8-2 run by the Badgers that finished the game.

Tucker finally was able to attack the rim, sparking the run, but the entire game was a learning experience for the team:

I think we got a lot of good looks in the second half when we played them there on how to attack their zone, Tucker said. [Badger Herald] We were more aggressive towards pounding it on the inside.

They're already on record as wanting to attack the glass from inside - if Butch and Landry can dominate the paint, it could be a long day for the Wildcats.

The Secret of the Badgers Success?
Maybe its the Wisconsin Scout team?

Coach Bo Ryan told the media monday that one of the reasons his Badgers have been able to slow down the Big 10's top 3 point shooters is that
"our scout team has some shooters who can simulate what these other guys are trying to do."

Ryan credits sub [and scout team members] Guards Jason Bohannon, Trevon Hughes, and Tanner Bronson for their practice play and 6-7 forward Kevin Gullickson, who simulates another team's big man who can shoot from downtown. I guess he's playing NU's Vince Scott the few days.

any "big" that can shoot, Gullickson can be him in practice - those are the things that have probably helped us the most - that we can go against guys in practice who are kind of like the other guys.. [Bo Ryan Monday Press Conference]

Welcome Alumni
Part of the hoopla surrounding NU's appearance at Wisconsin is Wisconsin's annual Alumni Game. That crowd won't get to see NU-Wisconsin, Kohl will be cleared prior to the Big 10 Game.

Injuries?
Once again, none reported...

The Last Word
Alando Tucker:

We have eight more games of the regular season left and we have to finish that out. I definitely plan to go undefeated in these eight games. [Badger Herald]

Kammron Taylor:

we still have another 17 games left, hopefully.(He's counting the NCAA Championships) [Badger Herald]